Improvement in accordions



T. MBINHOLD. Aocordon.

No. 207,760. Patehted Sept. 3,1878.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

THEODORE MEINHOLD, OF KLINGENTHAL, SAXONY, GERMAXY.

IMPROVEMENT IN ACCORDIONS.

Specification f0rniing part of Letters Patent No. 207,760, datcd September 3, 1878 application filed June 5, 1878.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, THEODORE MEINHOLD, of Klingenthal, Saxony, Germany, have in vented a new and useful Improvement in Ac cordions, of which the following is a specification:

My improvement consists in arranging the bellows on the side of the windchest instead of the bottom, as is usual in the common accordion or organ, and in arranging the keys on the top, or, if desired, on the front side of the wind-chest, to be acted upon by the fingers of the right hand, similar to the keys on a piano or organ. The wind-chest is provided with a suitable jaw at the back to fasten the same against the edge of a table and support the instrument. The bellows are worked with the left hand, and at the end head of the same a number of keys or knobs are arranged to be operated by the fingers of the left hand.

In the accompanying drawing, Figure I represents a top view of myimproved organina, embodying my invention. Fig. II is a side view, showing the end head which operates the bellows.

A is the wind-chest, on the back of which suitable jaws B, with fastening-screw b, are attached, to secure and support the instrument on the edge of the table or other article, so as to leave the bellows perfeetly free in their action.

D are the bellows to produce the required play of wind upon metallic reeds in the interior of the wind-chest A.

0 is the end head of the bellows, provided with a handle or hand-plate, E, to which a suitable strap, a, is attached, for the reception of the left hand, with which the bellows are worked. This hand-plate E is made to turn freely on its center-pin n, to allow a free turning of the hand to facilitate the operation of the fingers upon the keys or knobs in this end head at the same time the bellows is operated.

F and G are the keys, arranged on the top of the wind-chest similar to the keys of a piano or organ; and as this wind-chest is attached and supported at the table or other article, the right hand is quite at liberty, and can operate said keys as the keys on a piano. If desired the keys may be arranged on the front side of the wind-chest.

H and J are keys arranged on the end head C, operated by the fingers of the left hand. At the same time this left hand operates the bellows D.

Similarly to the construction of an accordion, each key plays on two apertures, the reeds of which are furnished with reversed valves to command two suecessive notes in the scale, according as the wind is drawn in by expanding the bellows or forced out by closing the same.

The usual large key by which the chest may be opened and suddenly exhausted and filled, as need requires, is arranged on the end head C as on an accordion; but this mechanism does not form any part of my invention, and

its arrangement is not shown in the drawing.

Instead of arranging the bellows on the left side of the wind-chest to draw out and push in, the same may be arranged on the left side at the top of the wind-chest, to bc lifted and compressed by the left hand for the desired purpose.

I claim as my invention- The wind-chest A of an organina, with jaws B at the back and suitable keys F Gr, in combination with bellows D on its left-hand side, arranged to operate substantially in the manner and for the purpose described.

THEO. MEINHOLD.

Wi tnesses:

HENRY E. tonnnu, J. B. Nonns. 

